Air lift-pump.



C. W. WHITNEY.

AIR LIFT PUMP.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I3. I9I5.

llaten'ted Jan. 8,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I C. W. WHITNEY.

AIR LIFT PUMP. Y APPLICATION FILED 950.13. 191s.

OQ 11 wz. Tl QOH H nl, naS JU dm es ....2 e t n@ Dl CHARLES W. WHITNEY,OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

.AIR LIFT-PUMP.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES IV. IVI-rrr- Vnur, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new land useful Improvements in AirLitt- Pumps, ot which the following is a description, reference beinghad to the accompany'- ing drawings, which form a part of myspccilication.

NIy invention relates to air lift pumps, more especially intended forthe pumping ol water from deep wells by means of compressed air, whereinthe eduction pipe is preferably constructed oi cast iron, so as toeliminate the ditliculties of corrosion and disintegration experiencedwith eduction pipes constructed of ordinary steel or wrought iron.

The object of my invention is to provide an eduction conduit or pipehaving` a continuously increasing internal diameter, commensurate'withthe pressure employed, in order to permit of the gradual expansion ofthe air within the conduit or pipe as it aseends with the water. Byemploying a conduit or pipe made in accordance with my invention, thetendency toward increased velocity on the part of the air toward thedischarge end of the eduction conduit or pipe will be greatly reduced,with the result that higher efficiency is obtained because of theopportunity afforded for a tull and yet gradual expansion of the airduring its passage upward through the eduction pipe.

Another object of my invention is to provide an air lift or pneumaticpump wherein the eduction conduit or pipe,which necessarily must consistof a number of sections where the water is being lifted or pumped fromaV well of considerable depth,-will present no broken joints on theconduit or pipe interior, and thereby overcome the slippage whichresults where broken joints are presented, as it has been found inpractice that such broken `ioints cause a disturbed relation between theair and water to take place. With my improved eduction conduit or pipe,an absolutely smooth passage for the air and water is provided, with theresult that the slippage of air, past the water in the ascending column,is prevented,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application 1ed December 13, 1915.

Patented Jan. (il, ittii.

Serial No. 66,455.

and a constant and much more cliicieut air lift or pneumatic pumpprovided.

rIhe objects of my invention will be more l readily comprehended fromthe following detailed description of the drawings, wherein Figure 1illustrates, in side elevation, the installation of my improvedAeduction conduit or pipe in the bore or shaft of a well.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a number of the sections ofthe eduction conduit or pipe and the couplings there-tor; the eductionconduit or pipe being provided with a centrally located air tube orpipe.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the topmostsection and a portion of the lowermost section of the eduction conduitor pipe, provided with the centrally located air tube or pipe, asdisclosed in Fig. 2; the air tube or pipe, at the lower end, being shownprovided with a series ot perforations whereby the air is permitted toes cape into the eduction pipe.

Fig. 4 is a partial longitudinal sectional View and partial sideelevation of another system, namely wherein the air-line or pipe islocated to the outside of the eduction pipe` except for the dischargenozzle or end of the air-line which is centrally located within thelower section of the eduction pipe.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a third type or system of airlift or pneumatic pump wherein the eduction pipe or conduit is locatedwithin the air tube.

In the exemplitication of the invention, as disclosed in Fig. 1, thebore ot the well is shown at 10, with my improved eduction conduit orpipe, indicated at 11, made up ot a series of sections. The varioussections are made of suitable length and secured or coupled together bymeans of the unions or couplings 12. The upper end of the topmostsection of eduction conduit or pipe 11 is shown provided with an elbow13, see Figs. 1 and 3, suitably bolted or secured to the topmostsection, as, for example, by means ot the bolts 14: which take throughthe flange on the elbow 13 and the flanged collar l5 which is shownscrewed onto the upper end of the topmost section orn theeductionconduit or pipe 1l.

The elbow 13 is shown provided with an` opening, in its bend, surroimdedby the boss 1G which is internally threaded to receive the ends ot' theair-line or tube 17. The airline or tube 1T is made up of suitablelengths of piping, such as wrought iron, and the like, and securedtogether in any suitable manner, preferably with Hush point 1S, as shown.in Fig. 2. The lowerniost section ol air-line or pipe 17 has its lowerend closed by any suit.- able means as7 'tor example, the cap 19, whilethe side walls are provided tor a suitable distance with perforations2t), which allow the air to escape itrom line or tube 1T into theeduction pipe ll.

ln order to practically eliminate corrosion and disintegrationheretofore encountered with ordinary steeland wrought iron pipe,

I contemplate constructing my in iprONcd eduction conduit or pipe ot'east iro'n rhe respective sections ot' the eduetion pipe or conduit llare n'iade with'gradually to top. as can very clearly be seen in Fig. 2,

so that the upper end ot'the one section `iso'l' internal diametercorresponding` with the internal diameter at the lower end ot'the nextadjacent or succeeding* section, enablingr the ends to abutag'z'iinsteach other so as .to provide unbroken or smooth joints betweenthe various sections, as shown in Fig. l

l pret'er to `construct the eduction conduit or pipe ot' east iron, andby reason otI the tapering or increasinl internal diameter, the lowerends ot' the respective sections are shown provided with thicker wallsthan the upper ends; the external diameter ot each' having' an internaldiameter correspomling with the external diameter oi one section.v whilethe other portion is shown provided with an enlarged internal diameterto correspond with the increased external diameter ot tl i adjacentsection, see Fig'.

rl`l1e ends ot the respective sections ot' the eduction conduit or pipeare'shown threaded` in order to receive the threaded unions or couplingsl2. whereby the respective sections are 'securely clamped or securedtoleether. This method of securing', the ditferent sect-ions together,permits the use oit cast iron sections and enables the united sectionsof the edu'ction conduit or pipe to be lowered into the bore ot thewellio the desired depth,

In practice, the section ot smallest internal diameter First startedinto the well to a partial or limited extent until the next inrreasiiigdiameter internally trom bottom successively until a siitlieient numberot sections oi" proper reeisterinr internal diamei ters have beenlowered and put into placeY lt will be understoml, ot course, tl at at,the same time a sutlicient number oit air-line sections or pipes arealso coupled together and lowered so .as to provi 'le Yan air-line, ot'proper length, with the upper` end ot the topinost inserted section oli'the Aair-line secured in the threaded boss lttormed inthe elbow 13,which latter then bolted or cured in `place,as shown in his'. 3.

The internal diameter ot the discharge or eduction pipe is of greatimportance to secure proper etlicienc);l and must bear a` re-A lationnot only to the amount ot water to be i handled, but also to the amountot air ein ployed for the litt.

In the exemplitication shown in Fig. l, l disclose what isknown as anoutside system.l namely wherein the air-line or tube 17 is lo-. catedoutside oit the eduction or discharge ypipe ll. In the system disclosedin Fig'. il,

thereduction pipe, like the eduction pipi,` shown in the tirst, threefigures ot the drawings, is composed of a sntliciei'it numberfotsections having;- Kgradiuilly increasing inter nal diameters 'from thelower toward the upper ends of the sections, asliei.et tore described;and the respective sections, like those shown in Fig. 2, are intendedlto be se cured or clamped together by means of the unions or couplings12, as previously` described.

n the system shown in Fig. fr, the lower end of the lowermost section ofthe eduction pipe or eonduitll is shown provided with a toot-piece 2lwhich may be screwed, onto the lower end ot the lowerinost section, asshown; the foot-piece beingl provided with a lateral connection 22 whichconnects the Vair-pipe or line 17 wit-h the airdischaige meinbeil 23,centrally locatedlin the lower end of the lowermost sect-ion otthecduction condnitll; `the perforations beingpreterably upwardlydisposed so that the air will be discharged in an upwardly .slopingmanner within the eduction pipe. Y i

The foot-piece 21 is of supfiici'ent internal diameter to permit thewater or tluid to rise within the eduction pipe about the dischargemember '23. 1With the system dis closed in this figure, where theair-line or lill pipe is located to the side of the cduction pipe, theelbow` il, secured at the top of the upper section of the eduction pipe11, need not be provided with the threaded boss 16, shown in Fig. 3. t v

In the exempliiication shown in Fig. 5, I illustrate' a third systemwherein the eduction pipe 11 is located within an outer casingll, whichlatter constitutes the air-line or tube. In this construction, the upperend of the casing 24C is shown provided with a suitable member or headhaving conimunication with the Lipper end of the casing 2st securedthereto and arranged to receive the compressed air from a suitablesource by means of the pipe 26. The upper end of member or headQ, inthis instance, receives the elbow 13. rlhe elbow 13 is arranged toreceive the upper end of the educw tion conduit 11 so as to convey thelifted water vor fluid to the desired point, the connection between theelbow and conduit 11 being such as to provide an air chamber within thehead which communicates with the casing 9A.

When this system is employed, the space intervening the lower end of theeduction pipe 11 and the casing 24 must be closed by suitable means as,for example, the collar 27, which may be screwed onto the end of thelowermost section of the eduction pipe 11, as shown in Fig. 5, orotherwise.secured thereto, so that the air cannot pass down below theopen end of the lowerinost section of the cduction pipe 11. Thelowermost end or section of the eduction pipe 11 is provided with aseries of perforations 28, preferably sloping upwardly toward theinterior of the eduction pipe, whereby the air, between the eductionpipe 11 and the casing 24, will be discharged into the eduction pipe andeXert its expanding energy in litting the water or other fluid.

The eduction pipe sections in this system, like the eduction pipesections in the previously described systems, are all made withgradually increasing internal diameters from the lower toward the upperends of the sections; with the internal diameter at the upper end of onesection corresponding with the internal diameter at the lower end of thenext adjacent section above, so that the eduction pipe 11 will beprovided with a continuously and gradually increasing internal diameter.

The air is introduced by means of the airline or tube into the lower endof the eduction pipe 11 under pressure, and therefore occupies lessspace than when it has eX- panded back to atmospheric pressure. If aperfectly straight pipe, towit, a pipe of equal internal diameterthroughout its length, is employed, then the air can only expand in onedirection, namely vertically. In effecting this expansion toward thedischarge,

its velocity-is increased.. This increased ve locity inducesincrcascdfriction between the liquid or iuid and the walls of the eductiou pipe,with the result that the water, being heavier than the air, is retardedin its upward flow by the friction encountered. This condition tends todraw the water back around the bubble or pocket of air which bccomeselongated. rl`he result of such condiV- tion and action will at timespermit the air to slip through and leave the water behind, so that theetliciency of the pneumatic pump or air lift is materially reduced andresults in a pulsating or intermittent discharge.

The air lift provided with the ordinary straight pipe-towit, pipe havingthe same internal diameter throughout its lengthstarts with a very lowvelocity at the point at which the air is admitted to the @duction pipeand the velocity gradually increases, resulting in a more or lessviolent explosion as'the air and water reach the surface or dischargeend of the eduction pi pe, allowing the air to expand back toatmospheric pressure.

lith my improved cduction pipe, namely a pipe having a constantly,gradually in.

creasing internal diameter from bottom to top, the expansion of the airwill be partially taken care of laterally and the velocity kept at amore normal rate, with the result that the friction encountered by therising column is materially diminished, and the efficiency of the pumpgreatly increased. In other words, my improved eduction pipe allows agradual and constant expansion of the air, both laterally andvertically, as it ascends with the water, thereby producing higherefliciency because of the opportunity alforded for a full expansion oithe air without undue increase in velocity as encountered with air liftsor pumps as heretofore employed.

Vhere ordinary piping is employed, wherein the sections do not abutwithin the couplings or nipples, the edges of the pipesections in thecoupling present sharp corners to the ascending water and each jointcreates a swell, with the result that a certain amount of air slips byand allows the water it is carrying to drop. This action results in aconsiderable loss especially where a long string of pipe, towit a pipecomposed oi a large number of sections, is necessarily used for highlifts.

With my improved manner of securing cast iron pipe-sections together,which not only enables cast iron piping to be employed, but alsoprovides a perfect and smooth conduit, the slippage resulting from thedisturbed relation between the air and water encountered with pipes asheretofore employed, will be obviated. Furthermore, the corrosion anddisintegration encountered where ordinary steel and wrought iron pipeare employed,

lll)

are to a large extent prevented and a longer lived air lift or pumpprovided.

I have shown and described what I believe to be the simplest and bestforms of my invention, which, however, may be modified in certaindetails without departing from the spirit oi' the invention.

l. An air lift or pump eduction piping composed oi" a series oi: castiron sections coupled together so as to provide a smooth interior, theexternal diameter ot a section being substantially identical throughoutits length while the internal diameter is gradually andconstantly'increased from one end to the other.`

2. An air lift or pump having an educ tion conduit or pipe composed of aseries of cast iron sections, each section being provided with asubstantially straight exterior and a constantly7 increasing or taperinginterior, and means whereby the sectionsare coupled together so as toprovide a smooth interior.

An air lift or pump having an eduction conduit or piping` composed of aseries of sections, the exterior diameter of each section beingsubstantially identical throughout the length of the section, while theinternal diameter of each section is constantly increased or taperedfrom end above, means whereby the sections are secured together so as toprovide smooth internal joints, and means whereby compressed air may beforced into the said eduction conduit adjacent the lower end thereof.

Ll. An air lift or pump having an eduction conduit or piping composed ofa series of cast iron sections having externally. threaded ends, theexternal diameter of each section being substantially identicalthroughout the length of the section, while the `internal diameter ofeach section is con` stantly and gradually increased at a ratiocommensurate with the pressure, the internal diameter at the upper endof one section being adapted to correspond with the internal diameter atthe lower end of the adjacent upper section, and means providedV with avarying internal diameter adapted to screw onto the upper and lower endsof adjacent sections so as to form smooth internal joints.

CHARLES lV. VHITNEY.

lVitnesses GEORGE HEIDMAN, y F. A. FLORELL.

- Copies of this patent maybe obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

